Post by Calvin Harris on Jul 26, 2016 1:03:54 GMT
** FLASHBACK **
Months Before
Months Before
The old warehouse in which Calvin once trained in was now something that belonged to him. It was the one thing that he wanted when his uncle had passed away. He wanted the keys to the building and he had every intentions of turning it into his own school. Much like his uncle had ran his own school there a couple years back. When he was actually in Chicago he ran a couple of training classes. Nothing that was long term and nothing that was too consistent but it was something that he was slowly but surely working on. Course that required him to move back to Chicago. Something he hadn’t truly decided on. Nor was it something that he had spoken to Alessandra about either. In time he would make his decision.
Today though he happened to be in town for one reason and one reason only. He had made a promise to a young woman that reached out to him through twitter that he would give her a training lesson. Granted he normally didn’t do those type of things. He didn’t engage in being bothered by the fans or in his mind the “marks” that existed in the world today. Yet for some reason something about her made her stand out than the normal people. Not to mention she seemed to be a total and utter mark for him. Mentioning that she had followed him for quite sometime. Calvin didn’t have an issue with having his ego fed. Calvin stood outside the ring as he watched this tiny stick woman run back and forth across the ring.
He had to admit that she was a quick learner. She truly picked up on running the ropes. She had picked up on the forward rolls, the back rolls, and the quarter rolls. He was truly surprised with her short stature how quick she was able to do the up and over the top rope. He was impressed. More impressed than he had been with anyone else he had trained before but she had a long way to go before she could ever call herself a professional wrestler. All of the sudden he shouted out at her.
CALVIN HARRIS: That’s enough.
Seemingly right on command he watched this pale woman stop herself mid sprint and plant her feet in the middle of the ring. Calvin found himself reaching up and grabbing the middle rope of the ring pulling himself to the apron. He wiped his feet off on the apron as a sign of respect for the business before pushing the middle rope down before climbing into the ring. He released the rope before stepping towards her. The man had some height on her. She only came up to about his chest which he had to hold himself back from making a joke at her expense. His eyes narrowing in on her bug-eyed ones.
CALVIN HARRIS: You can roll. You can hit the ropes. You can go up and over. But can you bump? That’s the question I have. Can you bump correctly and safely? If you can’t do that, you don’t belong in this business and quite honestly Kelsei. I don’t think you can do it.
Bumps were always the thing that ended up breaking people. When you were little you went your whole life learning not to fall because when you fell down it hurt and you didn’t want to keep dealing with that. Something that was understandable. Yet when you decided to get involved with the wrestling business. Then you had to teach yourself to fall and a lot of times it did hurt. It hurt a lot but that was either something you learned to love and embrace or it was something that would make you quit. In his heart he had expected this to be the thing that made her quit.
CALVIN HARRIS: Give me a basic back bump. Tuck your chin to protect your head and neck. You smack your head on the back of that mat and you’re going to know it. Trust me!
KELSEI BENNETT: Do you think you're talking to a rookie?
She smiled, not arrogantly, but confidently. She'd been doing this for a while now. Certainly not multiple years; after all, she was still young at the age of twenty-three. Nevertheless, she pushed some of her messy, dark brown hair from her eyes and secured it behind her ear. Taking his advice, she "bumped," knowing how important it would be to minimize the impact of her falls if she planned on doing this so she could keep going with the fight. Tucking her chin, she went down on the canvas, hard. Her body was lean, not having much padding, making her arch her back a bit before picking herself up from her feet.
CALVIN HARRIS: I didn’t like the way that looked. Do it again.
His order was barked out in a harsh tone. Truth was it wasn’t that the back bump was bad but it was more so he didn’t like the way that she had talked to him. Calvin had been doing this since he was seventeen. That was ten long years. Almost eleven. He was someone that knew what he was doing and could be considered somewhat of a veteran. Therefore he wasn’t going to stand for some greenhorn getting a big head just because she had been doing this for a cup of coffee. He was glaring at her.
CALVIN HARRIS: I don’t believe I stuttered. I said it wasn’t good enough, do it again!
KELSEI BENNETT: Fine. Fine.
She scoffed, not taking too kindly to being yelled at. But, in the long run, she had to recall that she asked for this. Tucking, she fell back again, the back of her head just avoiding colliding with the hard mat underneath. Pulling back up to her feet again, she dusted herself off. Calvin just looked at her chewing on the inside of his cheek. Shaking his head it didn’t seem like he was too impressed by this.
CALVIN HARRIS: That’s not going to cut it for me and it sure isn’t going to cut it for promoters either. If they are paying you to come in. They are expecting someone that can work. They are expecting someone that can wrestle. If you can’t bump then you’re no use to anyone or the business.
Again this had nothing to do with the fact that she couldn’t bump. She was doing everything just fine. Her bumps were crisp and they were clean. They looked damn near perfect. Much like his own bumps were always on point, but he had a chip on his shoulder with the way she had spoke to him and the way she seemed so confident. Calvin leaned himself back against the ropes continuing to glare right at her.
CALVIN HARRIS: Duck the first line and then bump off whatever I give you.
Before Kelsei even had a chance to respond to what he had said. Calvin sprung himself off the ropes and charged right at her with quickness. Coming in hot he swung his arm out aiming to take her head off with the clothesline. Much to his surprise Kelsei ducked under the arm avoiding the line just as he had instructed her to do. Before he knew it Calvin was hitting the ropes on the other side of the ring. He hit them hard and fast sending him back to the middle where Kelsei was. Yet he didn’t give her a chance to brace for what was coming. Nor did he give her a choice but to bump as he leaped up driving his knee pad covered knee directly under her chin knocking her off her feet and back against the mat for a perfect bump.
She was lying on the mat, rubbing her hand over her jaw. Opening her sore jaw and being a little extra tender with her chin, she gave her lower jaw a little roll, before pulling herself up with the ropes.
KELSEI BENNETT: Impressive... almost as good as one of mine.
She grinned, her fingers lingering on her jaw for a little bit longer as she approached him. Her lean, lanky frame in contrast to his - it was tough to deny they had a similar build. Taller, lean muscle. Calvin of course would tip the scales in bulk.
KELSEI BENNETT: But you know what they say... actions speak louder than words.
CALVIN HARRIS: If you think for one second you’re going to knee me in the face. You’ve got another thing coming.
He took a few steps back keeping his eyes on her. Truth be told Calvin could see the similarities when it came to their body types. There were other features about this woman that were similar to his as well. Ranging from the shape of her nose. Nearly spot on to the shape of his. Then of course there was this seemingly god-given talent that she had between the ropes. Again that was something that he wasn’t going to put out there in the open. She already had a big head which was something that annoyed the hell out of him. Not that he had a right to judge because when he started ten years ago. He carried himself in the exact same way.
CALVIN HARRIS: Who trained you?
KELSEI BENNETT: My dad paid for me to go to school in Yonkers. Hour and a half long trip by the subway every day.
She tightened her ponytail, while standing on one foot. Bending her leg at the knee, she stretched those long limbs behind herself.
KELSEI BENNETT: It's been a process.
She lowered her leg back down.
KELSEI BENNETT: But, I worked my way to head of the class.
Standing there for a moment taking in what she had said. Calvin couldn’t help but find himself relating to her. As much as this confidence that she had about herself annoyed him. He still found himself relating for he always had that confidence about him. Even when he was young and breaking into the business. He thought he knew it all. He thought he was better than most that he came in contact with. He thought everything he did was perfect. Granted the way he always vocalized that came off as arrogant and egotistical. Made people want to punch him in the face. Yet when it came to Keslei it was just a matter of being confident in herself and her abilities.
CALVIN HARRIS: I guess that’s one thing we got in common. I worked ahead of everyone in my class. Granted, I did it quicker than you likely did. I most likely graduated quicker than you did. But at least we have that in common where we drive for success.
For some reason he felt himself being challenged. Like there was just some inner rivalry instincts there where he just had to put himself over and where he had to just let it be known he was better than her. Had anyone asked him why he felt that way. He knew there was no way that he would have been able to explain it. There was just something there that made it that way. Shrugging his shoulders a bit trying to get his mind off of it while settling his eyes on her.
CALVIN HARRIS: Well since you seem to know it all. Since you got everything down pat. Since you know you got ahead of your class and everything. I guess there’s nothing I can really teach you. And I’m not one to really waste my time...
Right away he dropped down on his back and rolled himself out of the ring. Getting his feet up and under him before looking back over at the woman standing there in the ring with a puzzled look on her face.
CALVIN HARRIS: Do me a favor and lock up after you get sick of being awesome in the ring will ya?
His words were no doubt condescending. That much would have been clear to anyone with a set of ears. Before even giving the young woman a chance to respond to his comments. Calvin had done turned his back to her walking away from the ring. Slowly but surely making his way out of this old warehouse building. Truth be told after this interaction with her, Calvin knew there was something about this woman that was going to keep them connected to each other. Why? That was something he had have to think on. Why he felt that connection? That was also something he’d have to figure out. Some things and some people came into your life at odd times. Yet when that happened there was always a reason for it.